Pence finally making himself at home with Giants

Hunter Pence got his first hit in a Giants home game on Saturday, an RBI double to right.

Sunday, he hit his first home run in front of his new fans.

It was a biggie, highlighting an eighth-inning rally that allowed for a 9-6 come-from-behind win over the Rockies, and Pence could finally breathe easier, having been inconsistent at the plate since his trade from the Phillies.

"Hopefully there's a lot more of those," said Pence, who entered the game hitting .149 (7-for-47). "There's a long way to go."

Saturday, Rockies manager Jim Tracy challenged Pence by having hot-hitting Buster Posey intentionally walked in front of him. Pence responded with his RBI double. He entered the at-bat 0-for-12 in Giants home games.

"With the way Buster's hitting, that's going to happen quite a bit. You've got to do something about it," Pence said. "Since I've been here, Buster's been incredible. Last year, when I got traded to the Phillies, the same thing happened to Ryan Howard. They walked him, and it's going to come down to who's behind him. It felt really good to partake in the fun today."

The homer by Pence was the first by someone other than Posey in the Giants' yard since Pablo Sandoval on June 29.

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MLB Team Report - San Francisco Giants - NOTES, QUOTES

--3B Pablo Sandoval could return to the Giants as early as Monday after a three-game rehab assignment with Class A San Jose. Sandoval strained his left hamstring doing the splits reaching for a throw while playing first base.

--1B Brandon Belt, who was out of Saturday's lineup, returned Sunday and went 4-for-4 with two doubles. He had shown signs of snapping out of his funk, hitting .340 (16-for-47) in his previous 14 games. The Giants could use a consistent Belt down the stretch, especially considering he plays a position that usually produces runs.

--LHP Barry Zito lasted 5 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits Sunday. He exited with a lead, but the bullpen quickly lost it. Zito got a no-decision, so he's still 6-2 lifetime against the Rockies. The previous time Zito faced Colorado, he tossed a shutout at Coors Field on April 9, his first shutout as a Giant.

--INF Marco Scutaro will play multiple positions after 3B Pablo Sandoval comes off the DL, which is expected to be Monday. Manager Bruce Bochy said Sandoval could get time at first base as well as third and that Scutaro could play as many as three infield spots. "It's nice to have the versatility where you can move guys around," Bochy said. "I think that'll play a major role down the stretch here. If somebody gets a little nicked up or is not seeing the ball well, it's nice to have this depth."

--LF Melky Cabrera got serenaded during Saturday's game as fans in the left-field bleachers sung Happy Birthday to the 28-year-old. Cabrera turned and waved in appreciation. Giants fans have had a love affair with Cabrera, who leads the majors in hits and won MVP of the All-Star Game after he was acquired in a trade that sent LHP Jonathan Sanchez to the Royals.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5-0 -- Matt Cain's record in eight starts after a Giants loss. The only pitcher with a better record after losses is the Angels' Jered Weaver, who's 7-0 in eight starts after Angels losses. Cain's latest victory after a loss came Saturday, when he allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings to beat the Rockies.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's baseball. You can't always define it. Sometimes you hit it hard right at people. Sometimes you're down, but I understand that in the next at-bat, everything can change. You go out and play defense and you never know when you'll get another opportunity." -- Hunter Pence on his slow start with the Giants.

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MLB Team Report - San Francisco Giants - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Shane Loux (neck strain) went back on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 7. He had been out June 26-Aug. 1 with the same ailment.

--1B Aubrey Huff (sprained right knee) was activated from the disabled list July 28 but then re-injured his knee running to first base July 30 and had to leave the game. He was put back on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 31.

--3B-1B Pablo Sandoval (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 25. He began a rehab assignment with Class A San Jose on Aug. 10, and is expected to be activated Aug. 13.